1. Streamlining the Journey of Research Into Clinical Practice: Making Your Patients and Practice Flourish Evaluation and Treatment of Pyogenic Spondylodiscitis of the Spine: AO Spine Knowledge Forum Trauma and Infection.
- Author
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Bigdon SF, Vialle E, Dandurand C, Scherer J, Camino-Willhuber G, Joaquim AF, Chhabra HS, El-Sharkawi M, Bransford R, Fisher CG, Schnake KJ, and Schroeder GD
- Abstract
Study Design: Literature Review with clinical recommendations., Objective: To highlight impactful studies on pyogenic spondylodiscitis (PS), identified by the AO Spine Knowledge Forum Trauma and Infection, with recommendations for their integration into clinical practice., Methods: Five influential studies on PS that have the potential to shape current practice in spinal infections were selected and reviewed. Each study was chosen for its contribution to a critical phase in PS management: diagnosis, imaging, surgical vs conservative treatment, and antibiotic duration. Recommendations were graded as strong or conditional following the GRADE methodology., Results: Five studies were highlighted. Article 1: Pluemer et al introduced the Spinal Infection Treatment Evaluation (SITE) Score, a novel scoring tool for standardizing treatment decision-making. Conditional recommendation to incorporate the SITE Score or SISS Score for improved treatment outcomes. Article 2: Maamari et al conducted a meta-analysis comparing imaging modalities, with conditional recommendation to consider 18F-FDG PET/CT to diagnosis PS as an adjunct to MRI which remains the gold standard. Article 3: Thavarajasingam et al demonstrated the potential survival benefit of early surgery in specific PS cases, leading to a strong recommendation for early intervention in appropriate patients. Article 4: Neuhoff et al compared conservative and surgical treatments in well-resourced settings, concluding a strong recommendation for early surgery in appropriate patients. Article 5: Bernard et al evaluated antibiotic treatment duration, with a conditional recommendation for a 6-week course in confirmed cases, based on comparable efficacy to a 12-week regimen., Conclusions: Management of PS remains complex and varied. This perspective provides spine surgeons with evidence-based recommendations to enhance standardization and effectiveness in clinical practice., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
- Published
- 2025
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